COURTHOUSE — A Lower Providence man discovered with 52 bags of heroin in his car after allegedly driving under the drug’s influence in Plymouth has entered a special drug court treatment program.

Todd David Caperilla, 42, of the 100 block of Oaklyn Avenue, was admitted to the Montgomery County Drug Court Program on charges of possession with intent to deliver heroin, possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia, in connection with an Aug. 14, 2012, incident in Plymouth.

The drug treatment court, established in April 2006 and presided over by Judge Steven T. O’Neill, is an innovative approach to disposing of drug-fueled criminal offenses in a way that offers participants intensive help to fight their addictions, encourages them to change their lifestyles and offers them the opportunity to earn a dismissal of the charges against them or to have their court supervision terminated early.

If Caperilla, who listed a previous address in the 1200 block of West Oak Street, Norristown, successfully completes the diversionary program he could potentially clear his criminal record.

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However, even if Caperilla, who is represented by defense lawyer J. David Farrell, successfully completes the drug treatment program, he still must separately address the DUI-related charges filed against him in connection with the incident. That charge remains open, according to court documents.

Participation in the drug treatment court program, which is voluntary, is at least 15 months long and may last as long as three years. The length of the program depends on how well an offender succeeds in dealing with the addiction and becoming a productive, crime-free citizen.

Under the program, the drug court treatment team — consisting of probation officers, treatment provider representatives, the judge, a defense lawyer and a prosecutor — meets weekly to discuss an offender’s progress and to develop an individualized strategy to assist an offender in dealing with their addiction.

The program can include inpatient treatment, time in a halfway house and outpatient treatment several times a week. As a condition of the program, offenders must enroll in a 12-step program, the fellowship of Alcoholics Anonymous or Narcotics Anonymous, and work through the steps with a sponsor.

Participants are under the supervision of, and regularly report to, a drug court probation officer, which initially occurs twice per week. Offenders must voluntarily comply with all of the general conditions of supervision implemented by county probation and parole officers, including treatment and frequent, random drug testing.

According to a criminal complaint, what began as a traffic investigation on Aug. 14, 2012, unfolded into a drug bust when police stopped the gray Nissan Altima operated by Caperilla after receiving reports about a “reckless driver” traveling west on Conshohocken Road towards Ridge Pike at 8:56 p.m.

Police ultimately stopped Caperilla’s vehicle in the area of Fairfield and Sandy Hill roads, according to the arrest affidavit filed by Plymouth Police Officer Joseph Lapenta III. At the time, Caperilla allegedly told police he was coming from a friend’s house in West Conshohocken.

“(Police) observed that Caperilla had slurred speech, was shaking, had pale skin, pinpoint pupils, glassy eyes and a dry mouth,” Lapenta alleged, adding when police asked Caperilla if he had been drinking or taking drugs he stated, “No, I did not.”

Two witnesses in a car that had been following Caperilla since they first observed it traveling westbound on I-76 through Lower Merion Township told police they observed Caperilla’s car swerving, according to the arrest affidavit. The witnesses continued following Caperilla’s car until it was stopped by police.

During the traffic stop, as Caperilla reached into his glove box to retrieve his vehicle registration information, police spotted “in plain view several green packets commonly used to contain heroin,” according to the arrest affidavit.

“Caperilla stated to (police) that he did two bags of heroin,” Lapenta alleged.

During a subsequent search of the vehicle, 52 packets containing suspected heroin in four bundles and one packet containing a white powdery residue were removed from the glove compartment, authorities alleged. Authorities also found a clear hypodermic needle in the center console of the vehicle, court papers alleged.

“I conclude, due to my training and experience, the heroin is packaged and bundled consistently with individuals who sell narcotics,” Lapenta alleged, adding the needle is evidence of drug paraphernalia. “Individuals who use heroin often inject the narcotic intravenously using hypodermic needles.”